Battlement Mesa facts for kids

Battlement Mesa is a very large, flat-topped mountain in western Colorado, United States. It's like a giant natural table! This amazing landform sits right on the border between Garfield County and Mesa County. To its north, you'll find the famous Colorado River, and to its south, there's Plateau Creek.

Where to See Battlement Mesa

You can easily spot Battlement Mesa if you are driving on Interstate 70. This is a major highway that runs through Colorado. The mesa is visible to the south of the highway. It stretches for about 15 miles (24 kilometers) from east to west. You can see it between the towns of Rifle and Parachute.

A Town Named After It

There is even a community called Battlement Mesa located right along Interstate 70. This town was named after the impressive mesa it sits near.

How Battlement Mesa Was Formed

Battlement Mesa has a fascinating geological story. Its geology is quite similar to the nearby Grand Mesa to the south. It also resembles the Roan Cliffs to the north.

Layers of Rock

The top of Battlement Mesa is made mostly of a hard rock called basalt. Basalt is a type of volcanic rock. It forms when lava cools down and hardens. Below this tough basalt layer are older layers of sedimentary rock. Sedimentary rocks are made from tiny bits of sand, mud, and other materials that settled over millions of years. These layers were pressed together and turned into rock. One of these layers is part of something called the Green River Formation.

Images for kids

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  A view south towards Battlement Mesa from the intersection of Morrisania Mesa Road and County Road 309 in Garfield County.